Tuesday, June 19, 2007

stop

I’ve been doing a lot lately.
And I’m ready for a break.
Ready for a break from everything.
I’m tired of fighting the wars that I’ve been fighting and I’m tired of running the race that I’ve been running… the rat race. I’ve tired of rats.
Rats are selfish, nasty things.
There’s a reason it’s called the “the rat race” and I’m not interested in being a rat. There’s more to life.

Do you really believe there’s more to life? Seriously- do you? Stop and think with me for a minute about what the most important things in your life are right now… what do you spend the most time doing? Priorities? What do you spend the most time thinking about?
Stop. Be quiet. Meditate on God. Spend some time thinking about what God wants you to do. If you think that God doesn’t have anything for you to do… think again… He does.
Stop and take some time to look at the map of your life- where you’ve been- where you want to be- where you don’t want to be- where you’re headed- which direction you need to go.
Stop- check it out- check the Compass- and redirect/remap things if need be.

This week the fish in our office died. Yes, it’s true. He finally kicked the bucket. He was a good little beta fish… and many loved him. Amazing little story actually…
He was on his way out of this life and dying when Nita (our current Administrative Assistant) first came to work with us. He hadn’t had a very good life before Nita… didn’t get much attention… in fact; I think he’d even attempted suicide once or twice. That was about 3 years ago. Nita brought our little fish back to life. He started swimming more and he grew beautiful purple and blue fins… it was a miracle that everyone noticed. Nita spent a few minutes talking to him everyday and… on occasion she required that many of us greet him. It’s amazing what attention and love can do… even to a little fish… sounds ridiculous… and I’m shaking my head and laughing as I write this… but it’s true. Our fish became quite the thriving little fella… and became pretty popular too. Nita brought him back to life and he lived much longer than he would have without her. So, yesterday, he passed away… but he lived a good & happy little life… thanks to Nita. Before she came, most of us just passed by the little fish on the way to another meeting and didn’t stop to talk to him or notice him… but Nita made us stop and pay attention to the little things. If you can’t tell, Nita is someone who I look up to and consider a mentor in my life. (I can write this because I know she doesn’t ever read my blog.) Anyway, I hope you have someone in your life who reminds you to stop and pay attention to the little things. Just in case you don’t, let me be that person… STOP. PAY ATTENTION TO THE LITTLE THINGS. Stop and take a look at the world around you every once in awhile. There really is more to life than the rat race.
When our little fish passed away yesterday, Nita got on the intercom system and announced it to the entire building. And she allowed for a viewing of the body before orchestrating the funeral service. Only a few of us attended the service… but it was a memorable experience… and he was a memorable little fish. Our office will not be the same without him.